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Radical Martyrdom and Cosmic Conflict in Early Christianity
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Description
Several view of martyrdom co-existed in the early Church. The 'orthodox' position, generally accepted by scholars, was that a Christian should choose martyrdom rather than deny the Faith, but should not, on any account, court death. Although it has been recognised that some in the early Church did seek a glorified death, by giving themselves over to arrest, most scholars have dismissed such acts as differing from 'the accepted attitude to martyrdom' in the early Church. Therefore, instances of volitional, or radical martyrdom, have been largely overlooked or sidelined in scholarly investigations into the theology and origins of Christian martyrdom.
Paul Middleton argues that, far from being a deviant strand of early Christianity, 'radical martyrdom' was a significant, and widely held idealised form of devotion in the late first to early third centuries. Christian martyrdom is placed within the heritage of Jewish War tradition, with each martyr making an important contribution to the cosmic conflict between Satan and God. Radical Martyrdom re-examines the presentation, theology, and origins of Christian martyrdom up to the beginning of the Decian persecutions in the light of new perspectives on the subject.
Paul Middleton argues that, far from being a deviant strand of early Christianity, 'radical martyrdom' was a significant, and widely held idealised form of devotion in the late first to early third centuries. Christian martyrdom is placed within the heritage of Jewish War tradition, with each martyr making an important contribution to the cosmic conflict between Satan and God. Radical Martyrdom re-examines the presentation, theology, and origins of Christian martyrdom up to the beginning of the Decian persecutions in the light of new perspectives on the subject.
Table of Contents
Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction
Abbreviations
Introduction
Chapter One: Radical Martyrdom in Early Christianity
Death in Early Christian Perspective
Radical Martyrs
Radical Martyrdom and Scholarly 'Orthodoxy'
Rediscovering the Radical Martyrs
Pagan Perceptions of Christianity as a Death Cult
Conclusion
Chapter Two: Drawing Battle Lines: Christianity and Rome
Introduction
Caesar is Lord?
Domitian
Christians and Local Cults
The Emperor Cult
Clash of Realities
Conclusion
Chapter Three: Towards a Theology of Radical Martyrdom
Introduction
The Early Christian Presentation of Martyrdom
The Martyr's Cosmos
Conclusion
Chapter Four: The Origins of Christian Martyrdom
Introduction
The State of the Question
Judaism as a Source of Christian Martyrology
Noble Death
Christian Martyrdom as 'Something Entirely New'
Holy War and Cosmic Conflict in Judaism and Christianity
Conclusion
Introduction
The State of the Question
Judaism as a Source of Christian Martyrology
Noble Death
Christian Martyrdom as 'Something Entirely New'
Holy War and Cosmic Conflict in Judaism and Christianity
Conclusion
Chapter Five: Radical Martyrdom and Cosmic Conflict in the New Testament
Introduction
Paul
Cosmic Conflict
Taking up the Cross: A Call to Martyrdom
Discipleship and Death
The Apocalypse: A Martyr Charter
Conclusion
Bibliography
Product details
| Published | Aug 30 2006 |
|---|---|
| Format | Hardback |
| Edition | 1st |
| Extent | 224 |
| ISBN | 9780567041647 |
| Imprint | T&T Clark |
| Dimensions | 9 x 6 inches |
| Series | The Library of New Testament Studies |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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